Healthy Choices Restaurants Program
Step Up to the Plate!
In response to the growing interest of healthier lifestyles, customer needs, and desires regarding healthier dining, Steps to a Healthier Hillsborough County is introducing the Healthy Choices Restaurant Program. The Healthy Choices Restaurant Program is an awareness program to educate the community on healthy dining and to help identify local restaurants that offer sensible solutions to our population’s ever-increasing waistline. Through the Healthy Choices awareness movement, customers are encouraged to “Just Ask” participating restaurants to “Take Half Home”, have their meals “Cooked to Order” or ask for a “Healthier Substitution”. Consumers can cut calories by packing up half their meal even before starting to eat. By choosing a healthier method of cooking, such as, grilling or broiling, or getting steamed vegetables instead of French fries, calories can be reduced. Member restaurants display the Healthy Choices Restaurant decal in their window, so look for the logo to know if your favorite restaurant is leading the effort to make a difference in the health of our community.
Video: Make Healthy Choices!
Featured Restaurant of the Month: www.bamboozlecafe.com
News in Steps
Steps Assists with After School Program
The Steps Program, through an ongoing collaboration with the Hillsborough County School System and the The Ophelia Project and Boys Initiative (OPBI), is providing exercise and nutrition guidance at an after school program for a group of twelve 3rd to 5th grade girls. Utilizing the 12 week 'Girls on the Run International' curriculum originating out of Charlotte, North Carolina, girls are coached through a twice weekly 2 hour format focused on enhancing self-esteem, emotional and social development.
Community Partner Highlight
Partners in Prevention (PIP), one of Steps funded programs, has begun an ad campaign that has adapted Steps television commercials for viewing in Tampa cinemas. Beginning in January 2009, AMC Westshore Plaza 14 began airing a pre-produced television spot featuring the characters from the movie SHREK encouraging parents and youth to eat healthy and get proper exercise. This spot was tagged with the Steps logo and was produced by the Ad Council for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). By September 2009, a total of over 32,000 similar airings will be shown throughout movie theatres in the Tampa bay area.
